Nelson Mandela’s law-firm partner was Oliver Tambo.
Mandela and Tambo opened their Johannesburg practice in 1952. It became known as Mandela and Tambo, and it was described as South Africa’s first Black African law firm. The office represented Black clients who faced discriminatory laws, forced removals, pass-law prosecutions, and other abuses under apartheid.
Mandela and Tambo had already worked together in the ANC and its Youth League. Their professional partnership ended when Mandela was increasingly forced underground and eventually imprisoned, while Tambo left South Africa in 1960 to build international support for the anti-apartheid movement. Tambo later served as ANC president in exile for many years. Walter Sisulu was another close colleague, but he was not Mandela’s law partner.